Political Standing for Oct. 11, 2013

Saturday, 7:15 a.m., Political Scoop: My guest this week is New Hampshire AFL-CIO president Mark MacKenzie. He says his union will push for a minimum wage increase to $9 per hour in the next legislative session. He also discusses his union’s concerns with the Affordable Care Act and the government shutdown.

Sunday, 10 a.m., CloseUP: Another special edition of CloseUP in the second week of mayoral debates. This one is between Rochester incumbent mayor T.J. Jean and challenger, Fred Leonard.

For The RecordThe National Republican Senatorial Committee sent an email on Tuesday hitting U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen for "considering a vote on legislation to blindly increase the federal debt limit without any spending reforms or cuts to begin to alleviate the massive debt burden Washington has created." Bass voted for clean debt ceiling bills 6 times.

NotedRemember how Dan Innis gave money to Jackie Cilley’s campaign for governor last year and then voted in her Democratic primary? Maybe he really liked what he saw. Cilley’s Twitter handle was @JackieForNH. Innis is now @DanForNH

Questions Of The weekWhat should the title of Bob Smith’s upcoming memoir be titled?

Why is it the Obama campaign never had a multi-day problem enrolling people on their website to join the campaign?

Does Nancy Stiles have her second Republican Medicaid expansion vote or is that someone else’s job?

When Dan Innis voted in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary do you think he was with Hillary or Obama? Or do you see him as more of a Mike Gravel guy?

Will Maggie Hassan get involved in any of the mayoral elections this year?

Isn’t Mica Stark the logical choice to lead this new public policy school at UNH

#worththewait2006?

What is Andrew Hemingway up to?

Remember how Cornerstone was publicly inviting people to speak at their annual dinner in October and no one committed? Well…it’s October…is there still a dinner?

Why is Charlie Bass being so quiet?

Which person from the state’s political community will post a picture of the best seats from Fenway this weekend?

Who will Mike Biundo vote for between Frank Giunta and Dan Innis?

UPScott Brown: I know I promised earlier to never write about him again, but, whatever. He keeps signing up for events to help Republicans here and it is more than any other Republican is doing in the state.

Dan Innis: He had a solid launch this week. It actually appeared that he wants this more, but does he get that he’ll never be more popular than he is now? Welcome to the hard slog.

Jeanne Shaheen: As the Republican brand suffers, Shaheen was in the news for bipartisan legislation again this week -- this time on the budget.

Kelly Ayotte: Dare I say she is walking into the next Republican leadership position in the Senate when the next one opens up?

DOWNMaggie Hassan: Even members of her own party seem to believe the Medicaid expansion proposal is a lot better than what Hassan had proposed.